New Efficient Battery Fuel Could Revolutionise Energy Storage

Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a cheaper battery electrolyte that stores and releases energy more efficiently.

As renewable energy sources like wind and solar aim to bring about a sustainable future, efforts are needed to fully harness their potential. 

A big challenge these energy sources face is their inability to always generate power when needed. Wind turbines and solar panels only generate power when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining, which doesn’t always align with peak energy spikes.

To address this challenge, efficient and affordable energy storage solutions are crucial, and Columbia Engineering researchers may just have the answer. Their latest development is a new battery “fuel” that offers a promising solution for long-duration energy storage.

The team, led by associate professor of materials science and engineering in the Department of Applied Physics and Mathematics at Columbia Engineering, Yuan Yang, have focused on developing new kinds of batteries that transform how renewable energy is stored.

The team used a type of battery, known as K-Na/S batteries, that combines inexpensive, readily available elements, potassium (K), sodium (Na), and sulphur (S) to create a low-cost, high-energy solution for long-duration battery storage.

“It's important that we be able to extend the length of time these batteries can operate, and that we can manufacture them easily and cheaply,” said Yang. “Making renewable energy more reliable will help stabilize our energy grids, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and support a more sustainable energy future for all of us”.

There are two major challenges with K-Na/S batteries. The first is that their low capacity comes from the formation of inactive solid K2S2 and K2S, which blocks the diffusion process. The second is that they require very high temperatures, above 250°C, to operate, thus increasing the cost of the process.

To counter these problems, Yang’s team developed a new electrolyte, a solvent of ε-caprolactam and acetamide, which helps the battery to store and release energy more efficiently.

The new electrolyte dissolves K2S2 and K2S, which enhances the energy density, and power density of intermediate-temperature K/S batteries. It also enables the battery to operate at lower temperatures of approximately 75°C, while still achieving the maximum energy storage capacity.

“Our approach achieves nearly theoretical discharge capacities and extended cycle life. This is very exciting in the field of intermediate-temperature K/S batteries,” said co-first author, Zhenghao Yang.

While the current focus of the team is on small, coin-sized batteries, their aim is to scale up the technology to the point where it can store large amounts of energy. If successful, their battery technology could provide stable, reliable power from renewable sources.

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